Better Bets

Vinyl and linoleum are durable and waterproof, and come in a wide range of styles. Some of those styles make more sense than others. Tiles come in a variety of sizes and looks, and are easy to install.

You do, however, still run into some potential problems because of the seams between tiles and there is really no way to seal them against moisture.

Sheet vinyl or linoleum is a better bet, because you get the same moisture resistance and durability without the seams.

True Tile

While linoleum and vinyl tiles are sealed with glue, other tiles are sealed with grout.

Ceramic or stone tiles are an excellent choice for showers, pools and bathtubs. They are durable, water-resistant and look great.

One thing to keep in mind with this style is that having grout means cleaning grout, which can get tiresome depending on the amount of tile you have.

Best of the Best

So what’s your absolute, hands-down, ultimate top choice when it comes to bathroom flooring?

That’s right. Concrete.

If you are reading this and picturing a bathroom floor that looks a lot like your driveway, hold that thought. Today, concrete flooring is an increasingly popular choice, because it’s durable, can be sealed against water and is available in a variety of colors and tints.

And a concrete flooring doesn’t have to mean hard and cold. You can still install radiant heaters that warm the floor. Plus, throw rugs are a thing. And unlike carpet, you can pick them up and toss them in the wash if they get funky! Call it the best, with benefits.

Remodeling your bathroom brings a lot of tough decisions. Bath or shower? (Or combo?) What style of sink or vanity? Planning to paint? What color? Should you get new fixtures? Upgrade the toilet? (And is it worth the extra cost for self-cleaning?) How are you going to decorate?

And if that weren’t enough pressure, what are you going to do about the floor?

We can’t help with budgeting decisions, and many of the other choices are a matter of personal taste. But we can help with the flooring! We’ve got a two-part list, via Horizon Services, of bathroom flooring options ranked from worst to best!

Worst of the Worst

When it comes to bad choices for the bathroom floor, carpet is the worst of the worst. In fact, when we think of bathroom carpeting, two words come to mind.

EEEWWWWWWWWW!!

All right, that’s only one word. But it’s the right word.

Thanks to a combination of moisture and heating, mold and mildew will thrive, making your floor constantly damp and giving the whole room a dank, musty smell.

That’s what your bathroom carpet really looks like, on a microscopic level. Would almost make you want a shower… if you didn’t have to step out onto the carpet.

What About Wood?

While wood floors are popular, and aesthetically pleasing, they aren’t a good choice for the bathroom.

Parquet and tongue and groove floors are particularly ill suited for a damp bathroom; excess moisture will eventually cause the wood to warp and crack.

Laminate stands up better on the surface, but water can get through the cracks and seams to gather in the under-layer of the flooring. Engineered wood may be serviceable in a powder room or rarely used bathroom, but it won’t stand up to regular use in a main bathroom.

Wood reacts predictably when exposed to moisture, and it will eventually warp and support fungal growth.

We’ve covered the worst options when it comes to bathroom flooring. Click here for part two, with the best choices for your bathroom floor!

If you’re remodeling for your own convenience and pleasure, what’s most important is what you want. If you’re doing it for the purpose of selling your home, you’ll need to put some thought into what buyers like… and what they hate.

Room-Devouring Bathtubs

Bathtubs are like cats. People seem to love them or hate them. There’s a recent trend to do away with the tub altogether in favor of large, luxurious showers. There’s also a current trend for stand-alone soaking tubs. And while shower people and bath people can’t seem to agree on which is better, almost everyone agrees that giant bathtubs are over.

OK, we’re exaggerating… a little.

But if you’ve ever walked into an 80’s or early 90’s bathroom and come face to face with a “garden tub”, you know what we mean. These things have STEPS to get into and out of them! Like a pool! And they take up some serious real estate, considering they’re usually in the smallest room in the house.

Medicine Cabinets

Open shelving is trending, and the bathroom is no exception. Storing small items can be easy with baskets or boxes on the shelves, and it looks nice.

If you’re planning a remodel, go for oversized framed mirrors over the sink with shelving on the side, and skip that bulky medicine cabinet.

On the plus side, this will also mean no more snoopy houseguests rooting through your medicine cabinet.

Statement Colors

There are a whole world of options between white and black. Choose your palette carefully if you’re hoping to sell.

Everyone’s taste is different. When you’re choosing paint colors, try to infuse a bit of personality without overdoing it.

And, yes… you can paint a new color over the old one. But extremely dark or bold colors can be a challenge to cover, making a transition frustrating. Choose soft neutrals, or muted colors. And if the bathroom already makes a statement with its color palette, consider repainting before you put your house on the market.

What do you think? Any design trends you hate (or love) that would influence you on a home purchase? Let us know in the comments!

A bathroom remodel can be expensive if you aren’t careful, but you can make big changes without breaking the bank. We’ve got tips via Time.com (with images courtesy of Pinterest) to help you make smart choices.

National averages for bathroom renovation vary from $18,000 for a mid-range remodel to about $57,000 for an upscale job. When you sell you can only expect a 55-65 percent return on that investment, so spend wisely.

Work with the plumbing you’ve got.

Moving pipes to relocate plumbing fixtures will greatly increase the cost of your remodel. You can still change individual pieces, just stick to the original layout.

In a second-floor bathroom, that could save $200 to $500 on each fixture, says design-build contractor Mark Mackmiller of Eden Prairie, Minn., because you won’t have to pay to run new supply lines and drainpipes.

Everyone loves warm toes.

Heated floors are a great investment because they’re universally appreciated, and a programmable thermostat means warm floors are ready when you are.

Radiant heat adds about $500 to $1,000 to the bill, but it will make you feel warm all over.

Splurge smart.

To make your master bath luxurious – and efficient for two – splurge on key features. Dual sinks add $500 to $2,500 to the budget, in return for convenience and storage.

And a toilet room creates privacy while allowing the overall bathroom to be a truly shared space ($1,000 to $5,000).

At $2,000 to $8,000, trading a traditional bathtub/shower combination for a separate shower and soaking tub is an even bigger hit to the budget. It may also require interfering with the existing plumbing. Make sure you explore this option carefully.

And if you’re leaning toward natural stone surfaces, take a close look at porcelain tiles in stone-look finishes. The real thing will cost you an average of $500 to $1,500 more, and will need to be sealed.

Remodel the bath.

Don’t just replace your bath, revitalize it. Get an extra-deep reclining tub with seamless acrylic surround. Or convert it into a spacious shower. All in as little as one day, and all without breaking the bank.

A professionally remodeled master bathroom will give you years of pleasure and comfort, as well as make your guests feel like they’re staying over at a hotel (make sure they don’t steal your toiletries). But do an amateur job and you’ll be kicking yourself for days to come. What makes remodeling bathrooms so hard is that you have very limited space with which to work, not to mention the tons of potential leaks. Setting a budget and planning ahead are two very good ways of ensuring your project stays on track. So we thought we would help guide you along by offering 3 great ideas to employ when remodeling your bathroom.

(Of course, we take care of all of this for you 🙂

Hide The Toilet

A master bath should be both stylish and discrete. That’s why it’s best to conceal the toilet as much as possible. This can be done by either hiding it behind its own wall or behind a half wall. A piece of furniture—an armoire or dresser, say—can also create the necessary barrier without the expense of a framed wall.

Be Smart With Water Efficiency

Nowadays, being green and considering our carbon footprint is a huge part of our day-to-day living. But it’s also really cool to save money. Shower-heads, toilets, and faucets have all become more water-efficient in recent years, thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency’s voluntary WaterSense program, which labels products that are 20 percent more efficient than federal standards.

Select The Best Surface

Choosing the right surface for your bathroom is vital to its longevity. Porcelain tile, for example, seems to be quite popular among bathroom designers. Large porcelain tiles tend to be best for upkeep and minimizing the grout lines.Porcelain is also a great option when it comes to selecting the sink. Porcelain, porcelain, porcelain!

BathFitter would love to help you make your bathroom remodeling dreams come true. For a free in-home consultation, visit us online today, find your nearest location in Florida, Georgia or New Jersey and contact us!